Finally

I know it's been a while, a long while, since anything new has been posted here. Going back to work, even just part time has taken some getting used to and kept things rather hectic.

So the big update is that Porter has a tooth. He went to bed last night a toothless baby and woke up this morning with sharper bite! He thinks it is absolutely hilarous when I try to feel or see it. And he's still drooling gallons.

Also last night he said Dada. Over and over and over again. He and Andrew had a lot of fun!

So up next, baby boy, maybe some crawling!?! We see you thinking about it.

Yay!

We got a new camera!!

Really?

Driving down Sam Cooper this afternoon is a car with "Your Goregous" written across the back windshield.
To me, seeing this is like dragging my fingernails down a chalkboard. It actually hurts my head. If you are going to take the time to write something on the back of your car or someone else's car, at least make sure your grammar and spelling are correct, come on!
Or maybe I just don't get the message.
But it still bothers me!

Cold

P had his first cold. It of course turned into an ear infection. The cold part wasn't too bad. He was just a little grumpy. And tired, but didn't want to/ couldn't sleep unless he was being held or laying on top of someone. This sick behavior, he gets from me. I'm a total wimp when I'm sick. I need lots of attention, sympathy, and taking care of. Andrew, however, doesn't even mention that he's not feeling well until he's really sick. So we gave the little man lots of cuddling. We let him sleep with us at night. And we got to sleep with his vaporizer. He started feeling better on the forth day and even played a little. But that night, the poor little guy woke up at 3am to eat. He ate and then cried/ screamed for the next two hours. Then he slept badly for two hours and cried/ moaned for two more hours. It was awful. There's nothing worse (that I'm aware of) than watching your baby it horrible pain and not being able to help him. So I called the doctor. We decided the only thing that could bring this sweet child who doesn't cry to such crying had to be an ear infection. We were right. Thankfully it is only in one ear and the antibiotic is working its magic fast. He's back to his non-crying talkative little self, except that he's mostly sleeping. Which, incidentally, is what I do when I've got an ear infection. And of course, now I've got a cold. I have to say here, that if Porter's throat felt anything like mine does, he's one tough baby!

So I think we did good, the three of us. We made it through the first baby sickness. There were rough moments, but that was the sleep deprivation. Now we're all close to catching up on all that.

So up next, we're going to try to get the living room done in the next few weekends.

***Before the weather decided it was indeed January and it should be cold, we went to the zoo with Aunt Bree and Madi. This is the explanation for the above picture. I think double strollers, even though they are practical, are funny in a ridiculous kind of way. And a pain in the a*@ to push.

The End of 2007

Since the weather was so nice, we decided to take the little man to the zoo. It was the first time P rode in his stroller without the car seat so he got to see the actual zoo instead of the sky above the zoo!

He stayed awake for the whole zoo adventure. He liked the lions.



I liked the tigers.
And P really liked the Pandas.


When we got home he promptly took a nap.

2007 was a good year. We wish everyone a good 2008!

More Chirstmas!

P's Pop Pop and Nana Catherine came to town to celebrate Christmas this weekend. So we got to have more Christmas fun!

P had a good time playing ...

And talking with Pop Pop.

Christmas

Because this was P's first Christmas, we decided to get a tree we could plant once the indoor enjoyment was done. We found nice little leyland cypress at our neighborhood Home Depot for 50% off! Yay! Then we read the card and discovered that the sucker really should stay indoors no longer than eight days. So... on the porch it stayed for a few days. Further reading of the card informed us that we should use small ornaments and not so many lights. So our tree is a little bare this year but, pretty. Andrew has picked a spot in the front to plant it this weekend so that in 30 years, our son can drive by the house his parents no longer own and still see his first Christmas tree. Sweet.


In other Christmas related news, Porter saw Santa. Yes I paid $23 for my three month old son to sit on a red and white wearing stranger's lap. Do we have the money to spend on such a frivolous thing, of course we don't. Will I be so happy five, ten, even twenty years from now that I spent the money, hell yes! Our baby boy was adorable. If I had a scanner I'd prove it to you, but I don't so you'll just have to believe.
Amazingly, he didn't cry. He stared then laughed, then stared some more and smiled again. Of course, the picture was taken right after the laugh so he's pretty serious, but it's great. Cheesy and ridiculous, but great.

We celebrated Chirstmas with my niece Alice on Sunday at my mom's. She's in the red dress. Madison lost most of her clothes at some point during the day.

Madi really likes her cousin's! And hugs.

P got some needed floor play time.

We spent Christmas Eve and Christmas Day at my mom's as well.
Christmas Eve was mostly about spending time together, cooking, baking, and eating sugar and salt a plenty. No real food mind you, just lots of junk.



Porter got lots of hugs, especially from Madi.
The hat lasted for the two seconds it took to take this picture.
Christmas day was about spending time together, eating (real food included), and of course, presents. We all did good. The men planned the food this year: surf and turf with twice baked potatoes. They did well. Everything was great. Madi hugged P some more.
We've had a great Christmas so far. Porter did really well. He was never cranky or crazy even though we kept him out all day and most of the evening for three days in a row. He also slept through the night all three nights! And I mean slept. Through. The. Night. He usually went to sleep around ten and didn't wake up until six! One day he slept until seven. He got more sleep than me or Andrew!
I was afraid the day after Christmas might be the day P decided to get crazy and let the holiday catch up with him, but he was his usual happy little self. He slept a little more than he usually does, but he wasn't cranky! Today's he's been good too. He's needed a little more attention today, but that's easy to give!

Thanksgiving

This was the first year in a long time that all my siblings and their spouses were in town for the holiday. My aunt Mary was even in town! We started the Holiday with a Wednesday night cocktail party at my Mom's. Friends and extended family gathered for an evening of food and drink.
Thursday we all got together, again at Mom's, to cook and eat. All day long. After dinner we all sat around the table and played games. It was a wonderful day.

All of Porter's cousins had fun too.
Asher joined the adults for game time and helped keep us in check and obeying all the rules.
Zeth enjoyed dessert.
Madison, who turns one in a week and a half, enjoyed her first Thanksgiving too. She spent most of the day running and laughing.
Porter enjoyed his first Thanksgiving by playing, eating and sleeping.
Alice, who was also having her first Thanksgiving, had fun sitting at the table and watching us play games even though she's got a tooth coming in.

October

Almost eight weeks have passed since Porter joined us and a lot has happened.
He's gotten bigger. He's smiling and laughing and playing real hard for a little guy. He's also noticed the animals he lives with and thinks they're pretty interesting.

His Aunt Carrie came to visit. And his favorite surrogate aunt and uncle, Sarah and Jeremy came to visit.And we finally caught his anger at being burped on film. However, he has, since that evening, begun to get a lot more calm about this part of the eating process.

On the home renovation front, WE GOT A LIVING ROOM!!!!!
It's not all complete (the crown moulding, kickboard and quarter round, and the window and door trim haven't been put up yet). Thankfully Andrew and Corey mixed several primers to make enough to cover the walls so the primer is colored rather than white. Until we get the trim up we have a lovely blue instead of boring white!
I'll let the before and after pictures tell the rest.


The brick was originally covered up by water damaged plaster and lathe that was poorly covered by paneling. We liked it with the stone fireplace so Andrew cleaned it up a bit and added the lights above it. There are a few other final touches the mantel is getting later.
It's not perfect, but it's getting close!

He's home!

Porter's finally home. We're all getting used to each other and used to our new schedule- the baby comes first schedule. So far, I think we're all adjusting very well. Porter seems to be happy with his parents.

He's not really much of a crier or a fusser, unless of course he's hungry. Then he's ravenous! But otherwise, he's a laid back kid.


And Andrew and I are so happy with Porter. He's a good baby. He even lets us sleep a little at night.

Now all we need is the Baby

The baby's room is officially done!!!

Getting Close on all fronts

The living room ceiling is mudded, taped, sanded, primed, and painted and the fan is up and running. All it needs now is a couple of new air vents and ceiling will be done. I just haven't made the run the Lowe's yet.



Andrew did a great job turning the double door to the dining room into an arch! Somehow I failed to take a picture of the doorway before we destroyed the living room, but I did find this picture that shows part of the doorway (on the left) back in November.


And here's the new doorway:

Also in the good news department. We had a doctor's appointment this morning and have been told that progress is so good that she expects to see us before next week's appointment!! Yahoo!!!